Religion column: Comfort foods, comfort verses

Comfort foods are found in almost every culture. They are foods that are home cooked, inexpensive, uncomplicated, easy to prepare and emotionally significant. The ingredients are not the qualifying factor, rather how the foods make us feel when eaten. These foods have a way of soothing our psyche and creating a sense of nostalgia, memories of our childhood and feelings of safety, security, belonging and warmth. They trigger memories and help us to cope in an unfamiliar environment.

Comfort foods are appreciated the most in inclement weather or when we have been away from home for awhile. Examples of these type of foods are beef stew, meat loaf and mashed potatoes, fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, banana pudding — and this list would not be complete without mac and cheese and peanut butter and jelly.

In reading the Bible, I have found that there are comfort verses. These verses affect us the same way comfort foods do. When our circumstances are out of control, these verses can create that sense of safety, security and strength. Some were taught to us in our early years. They are verses we can meditate on, verses we can reflect on and verses we can rehearse in our minds to create a sense of stability in times of uncertainty. Some standard comfort verses include Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," Psalm 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation," and Isaiah 40:31: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

These and other verses are the ones we love to share with people who are facing challenges and tests that are overwhelming. They have a powerful way of bringing comfort and peace in the midst of difficult situations. One verse special to me took on a more powerful meaning on a recent trip I took to Haiti. On Super Bowl Sunday, while others were preparing their special snacks, putting on their favorite team jerseys and finalizing their guest lists, I was making my way to Haiti, along with Pastor Howard Heard and Cornell Jones of Emanuel Baptist Church in Newport News. The purpose of our trip was to assess the need and to encourage those who had survived this horrific tragedy. After spending a day in Port-au-Prince, I was asked to speak to a congregation, some of whom were survivors of the earthquake. Many shared their stories of losing their homes and their family members. All of them were now displaced by the earthquake and had no idea of when nor how they would begin to rebuild. Thoughts began to race through my mind, words seemed so empty and inadequate, and I wondered what could be said to people who have suffered such great loss. As I prayed, the passage that came to my mind was from Psalm 46: "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble." The entire chapter of Psalm 46 has been one of the comfort verses down through the years. It speaks of how to handle situations that are out of our control, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and the worst convulsions of nature. The Psalmist makes a bold statement, saying in spite of all I face, I shall not fear. Psalm 46 reminds us that God is the one we can run to and find safety, security, stability and strength.

As Haiti begins to rebuild, they are teaching the rest of the world some great lessons. Please continue to pray for and seek out ways to help the people of Haiti. As you face difficult and devastating situations in your life, find great strength and comfort in the word of God.

The Rev. Jerome Barber is pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple in Hampton. He can be reached at jeromebarber@smzbt.org.